THE following is the statement last night by the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, detailing the Government's measures to tackle crime.
GARDA SIOCHANA
THE Government has approved the carrying out of a full review of the efficiency of the Garda Siochana under the Strategic Management Initiative to be completed by the end of 1996. Details will be announced next week. The new Commissioner, when appointed, will be obliged to implement the recommendations of this review.
(1) Extra Gardai
THERE will be an increase in Garda strength with the recruitment of an extra 400 gardai over the period July, 1996, to December, 1997. This accelerated recruitment programme will be in addition to the already planned for recruitment of 350 new gardai in 1996 and a further 350 new gardai in 1997.
(2) Extra Civilianisation
AN additional 200 civilians will be recruited between now and early 1997 to enable an equivalent number of gardai to be released from clerical/administrative type duties to operational Garda duties.
(3) Gardai Revenue/Social Welfare Cooperation
THE Government will be setting up a Special Unit headed up by a garda, to target suspect assets. This Special Unit will comprise Garda, Revenue and Social Welfare officials. The Report on the setting up of the Special Unit will be presented to Government on July 18th by the Minister for Finance.
(4) Review of Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness of the Garda Siochana
THE Co-ordinating Group on the Strategic Management Initiative will undertake a review of the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the Garda Siochana against the background of the challenges it now faces, and is likely to face. The Government has asked this Group to report back to it at the earliest opportunity, but, in any event, not later than December, 1996.
(5) Other Crime Prevention Measures
THE Minister for Justice also updated her colleagues on other crime prevention plans that she has progressing, including
(I) Increase in the number of Youth Diversion Projects
(II) Strengthening of Juvenile Liaison Officer Scheme
(III) Establishment of a Crime Council
(IV) Expansion of public Closed Circuit TV system to other areas
(V) Specialist Garda vehicles for surveillance and rapid response
(VI) Radio Technicians for Garda Communications Network.
PRISONS
THE Government has agreed to a new Remand Prison at Wheatfield and expediting the Prisons Building Programme approved in January, 1996.
(1) New Remand Prison At Wheatfield
THE Government approved the Justice Minister's proposal to build a new Remand Prison capable of holding 400 prisoners on the site already available at Wheatfield. Planning this project will commence immediately. The estimated cost of the prison project is £40m.
(2) The Main Prison at Castlerea
THE Minister for Justice obtained Cabinet approval for the capital funding, so that the construction of Castlerea Main Prison, which will provide 125 extra prison places, can begin at the latest by January, 1997.
(3) Women's Prison/Moutjoy Complex
THE Minister for Justice also obtained Cabinet approval for the capital funding, so that the construction of the Women's Prison in the Mountjoy Complex, which will provide 60 extra prison places, can begin no later than January, 1997.
(4) Limerick Prison/New Wing
THE Justice Minister also obtained Cabinet approval for the capital funding so that work can be expedited in 1996 on a new Wing at Limerick Prison, which will provide 55 extra prison places. Planning for this prison project is at an advanced stage.
NEW SUPERVISED EARLY RELEASE PROGRAMME
THE Minister for Justice also obtained Cabinet approval for a new scheme involving intensive supervision of 100 prisoners, initially, on early release. The Government approved the recruitment of 10 additional Probation Officers to enable this scheme to be put into effect, in cooperation with the gardai.
COURTS
(1) Additional Judicial Resources
THE Government today nominated for appointment by the President two new High Court Judges under the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995.
The Government is also proceeding with the nomination of nine Circuit Court Judges (including those provided for under the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995) for appointment by the President.
(2) Further Judicial Appointments
THE Minister for Justice will bring forward a new Bill amending the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995, to provide for the appointment of an additional three Circuit Court Judges, bringing the total number of Circuit Court Judges to 27, plus the President of the Circuit Court.
(3) Arrangements for Additional Sittings of the Central Criminal Court and the Circuit Court
THE Minister for Justice has obtained the agreement of the President of the High Court that the Central Criminal Court will sit for three additional weeks, commencing on September 16th. The President has also advised the Minister the he will arrange for three judges to sit during this period.
The Minister for Justice has also obtained the agreement of the President of the Circuit Court for additional sittings of the Circuit Court around the country, but in particular in the Dublin, South East, South West and Western Circuit areas where delays are generally longer. Again, the extra sittings of Circuit Courts will be for three additional weeks commencing on September 16th.
LAW REFORM MEASURES
(1) Dail
THE Justice Minister's proposals for a combination of constitutional and legislative changes to the existing bail laws, as indicated in the statement of June 28th, were approved by Cabinet today.
A Constitutional referendum will be held in November to allow the refusal of bail because of the danger of the commission of serious offences. The accompanying arrangements will provide for a compulsory review by the court of refused bail applications after four months if the trial has not taken place. The Minister for Justice will commence work on this immediately.
The Minister for Justice will also bring forward legislation to
. Require cash or its equivalent to be lodged as part of bail
. Require persons going bail to guarantee the good behaviour of an accused pending trial, and to provide that the bail money may be confiscated if the accused commits an offence while on bail and
. Strengthen the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, dealing with consecutive sentences to ensure that additional penalties are imposed for offences committed on bail.
(2) Right to Silence
IN addition, the Cabinet agreed with the Minister's proposal to bring forward an amendment at Report Stage of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Bill, which is before the Dail today (July 2), that will restrict the right to silence in drug trafficking cases. This amendment to the Minister's Bill will allow inferences to be drawn from the failure of an accused to disclose matters which are relied in his or her defence, and which could reasonably have been expected to have been mentioned during garda questioning.
(3) Offences Against the State Act 1939
THE Minister for Justice will urgently examine the possibility of scheduling drug trafficking offences under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, particularly in the context of increased use of the Special Criminal Court. The Minister will bring proposals on this matter to Government shortly.
(4) Criminal Assets Legislation
THE Minister for Justice is examining the Private Members' Bill dealing with the seizure of criminal assets. As already indicated, the Government will not be opposing the underlying principle of the Bill, but will be examining it to see what steps are necessary in order to ensure the Constitutionality and effectiveness of proposals in this area. The Second Stage of the Bill will be completed in the Dail today (Tuesday) and the Bill will immediately go to Committee. The Minister has already made it clear that the Bill is flawed and will require substantial amendment.
(5) Review of Existing Criminal Justice Legislation and Procedure
THE Minister for Justice is already reviewing existing criminal justice legislation and procedure to identify any perceived deficiencies or possible improvements, and a number of measures are already being drafted in the Attorney General's office.
ADDITIONAL STAFFING RESOURCES
(1) Department of Justice
THE Minister for Justice obtained Cabinet approval for extra staff in the crime area and to implement the above measures.
(2) Extra Forensic Scientists
THE Minister also obtained Cabinet approval for funding to recruit an additional six Forensic Scientists for the Forensic Science Laboratory, in order to speed up criminal investigations.